Six-Party Talks To Resume On N. Korea Nuclear Arms

Six-party talks on the future of North Korea's development of nuclear arms are due to begin shortly after that country agreed to return to negotiations more than a year after a walkout.

The United States, China, Russia, Japan, and South Korea have sought to engage North Korea in talks to secure the termination of its nuclear weapons development, but for 13 months, North Korea has insisted on various conditions before it would address the issue, including direct talks with the United States, which was officially refused. The U.S. has, however, engaged in unofficial discussions with North Korea, which decided to return to the table after a statement of the recognition of its sovereignty was issued by Assistant U.S. Secretary of State Christopher Hill at a meeting with his counterpart.

The Bush Administration has said that the involvement of all six interested parties is vital to a resolution of its dispute with the Communist country over its nuclear arms development, which the U.S. has consistently opposed.

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